PLT2370

America: decay of the liberal dream?

Ray Nichols

8 points
* 3 hours per week
* First semester
* Clayton

Objectives On completion of this subject students should have an understanding of contemporary America; have an understanding of the nature of political action and ideas in America; have a sense, through America, of the practical interpretation of culture.

Synopsis This subject explores contemporary America. It focuses on political action and its links with ideology and culture. It begins with an overview of American politics and culture. It then focuses on four developments which have progressively challenged the American `liberal dream': (1) poverty, racism, and black revolt; (2) counter-culture, technoculture, `personal politics'; (3) Watergate, Iran- Contra, and presidential power; (4) the resurgence of `the Right' and the problem of `Right/Left'. It concludes by suggesting implications of the American case for other contemporary cultures. Major themes are: culture and politics - ideas and action, meaning and power. Political action - violence, innovation, citizenship, movements. Political ideology - `Americanism' liberalisms, radicalism, reaction. America and late modernity - ascendancy, uncertainty, the decline of the public.

Assessment Essay (3000 words): 50%
* Examination (3 hours, 3 questions): 50%

Recommended texts

Arblaster A The rise and decline of Western liberalism Blackwell, 1984
Dionn E J Why Americans hate politics Touchstone, 1992
Evans S Personal politics: The origins of feminism in the civil rights movement and the new left Random House/Vintage, 1979
Haley A (ed.) The autobiography of Malcolm X Ballantine, 1968
Lasch C The true and only heaven: Progress and its critics Norton, 1991
Miller J Democracy is in the streets Simon and Schuster, 1987